Community responds to blood drive for Little Ferry BOE member

Colleen Tronlone fills out the paperwork before submitting a sample to test for a bone marrow match. The blood and bone marrow drive was held for her father, John Tronlone, a current member of the Little Ferry board of education who was recently diagnosed with leukemia.

LITTLE FERRY - The residents of the Borough of Little Ferry, as well as others from nearby, reached out their helping hand as donors flocked to Memorial Middle School on Nov. 30 to donate blood and platelets to an active member of the community in need.

Little Ferry resident and Board of Education trustee John Tronlone, 63, has served on the board for the past 20 years and is currently the vice president. In addition, he has volunteered on the First Aid Corps, Little Ferry Hook and Ladder, he has been the director of Little Ferry's floor hockey program K-3, and coached for the Little Ferry/South Hackensack soccer and baseball programs.

Bill Murnane, of Bergen County, donates blood during the drive held for Little Ferry board of education member John Tronlone, who was recently diagnosed with leukemia.

"I have fond memories of John playing Santa Claus for the kids," said Little Ferry Superintendent Dr. Mark Hayes. "I remember on Dr. Seuss night, he was lying on the floor on a blanket reading to kids. He is a tremendous individual and the board is blessed to have his services."

On Oct. 8, he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and was immediately hospitalized to begin chemotherapy. AML is one of the more aggressive forms of cancer and treatment requires frequent blood and platelet transfusions as well as an eventual bone marrow transplant as a cure.

"We went to the hospital, the doctors took my blood and they did a bone marrow test," said Tronlone. "Within two hours, they told me that I had leukemia and they put me up in a room, and started the chemo."

Tronlone was in the hospital for four and a half weeks and his treatment is ongoing. He was scheduled to go back to the hospital on Dec. 2 for six more days of chemotherapy. The donor registry turned up two matches for a bone marrow transplant. If the donors meet all of the criteria, a transplant would take place in mid-January.

Because each round of chemotherapy requires frequent blood and platelets transfusions, his daughter, Colleen, organized the drive in order to provide him with enough blood and platelets for his treatments.

"We spoke with the nurses and they said that he will need a lot of blood and platelets," Colleen said. "They told us it would help other people as well. I was only holding the drive for blood initially, but it turned into a really big thing."

A steady stream of donors walked through the doors at Memorial Middle School throughout the day to support Tronlone in his fight with cancer. By 12:30 p.m., more than 100 people had already donated and there were more lined up waiting to fill out the paperwork in the hallway outside of the gymnasium.

"It didn't surprise me at all to see that outpouring of support, he is a wonderful individual," said Hayes. "We look forward to his speedy recovery."

Tronlone, along with his family, was in attendance to greet and thank everyone that donated to his cause.

"I can't thank the people enough for all that they've done for this. I appreciate it very much," he said.